Michael Schumacher, the seven-time Formula One World Champion and racing legend, is reportedly in a coma and has been downgraded to critical condition after suffering from a cerebral hemorrhage following a skiing accident today, according to local French media reports and the hospital.
Schumacher suffered a head injury earlier while skiing in the French Alps. The injury was initially reported to be not that serious, and Schumacher was reportedly conscious and talking immediately after striking his head on a rock.
#BREAKING Schumacher in critical condition after ski accident: French hospital
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) December 29, 2013
Management: Schumi suffered a head injury with a coma which needed urgent neurosurgical treatment. Condition is critical.
— Bianca Garloff (@bgarloff) December 29, 2013
Former F1 doctor and Clinical Professor of Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine at University of Liège Hospital Gary Hartstein is giving a breakdown on Twitter on the medical aspects:
Taking off my doctor hat now, to tell Michael to get better. And that we're all pulling for you Champ.
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
It's quite well known that extradural hematomas, a kind of cerebral hemorrhage, can leave a lucid interval after injury
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
Then as the hematoma forms, the sudden increase in pressure causes sudden and dramatic symptoms. Pressure must be relieved rapidly.
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
This is done with a neurosurgical intervention. Then the victim is observed in an ICU environment
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
Quality of recovery depends on: 1) severity of initial injury 2) acuteness and amplitude of pressure rise when hematoma forms...
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
3) rapidity with which it is drained 4) quality of neuro intensive care and rehab
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
About the "induced coma". Lets demystify it just a bit. Any severe head injury leads to a loss of coordination of tongue and throat muscles
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
Happens to some when they sleep - called SNORING. But this is reapiratory obstruction and causes CO2 to rise and oxygen to fall.
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
But the brain wants oxygen and hates CO2. So we put tubes in these patient's tracheas and use reapirators. This protects the airway
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
And gives excellent control of ventilation and oxygenation. But to intubate someone, he or she needs to be pretty deeply anesthetised
— Gary Hartstein (@former_f1doc) December 29, 2013
Photo via Getty
Michael Schumacher In Critical Condition After Cerebral Hemorrhage